I smoke weed since I was 12 years old. You can look for my name in the Internet if you want and see if I have accomplished something in my life or not? (and I have internet since 9 years only, like you I came from an island where weed is very illegal too and also there is not Internet normally) I do not say you should smoke or not, it is a personal choice. And personally I think smoke weed (you can also eat, less harmful to your body) it is less dangerous than alcohol or tabac. You should look how many people are death, direct or indirect, because smoking tabac or drinking alcohol first and compare to how many have died because of smoking weed. In the ancient countries where using weed as a medicine, now the people are starting using it again and it is a lot better than to take a lot of medicines (I assume you know about the pharma industry and how harmful is to the people) . You can make clothes, paper without cutting the Forrest, get essential oils, you can even build a house (look for hemp-cement) ... I do not think you can do the same with alcohol and tabac ;)

What up, Alden. Let me first say. I respect your opinion. But let me give you mine. 

Weed is an industry what could change the lives of millions all over the world, were it not due it's shady character. "It's the herb of the devil, the devil pissed on it, that's why it's smells so good, it makes you lazy, hungry for sex and food and bla bla." 

But let's not forget it's potential. They used canvas to print the first Bible, we used to make clothing out of weed, it restores the ground we need to survive and it could replace petroleum, plastics, GMO and expensive medicine. Furthermore it could be used to lighten up our transport vehicles due to its fiber strength. 

Weed means abundance. It's production could mean many farmers all over the world would have no problems feeding their livestock and families, which it is now. Go see for yourself in India, Africa and South America. It's just a rich man's trick. They can only stay rich, if we choose to stay poor. 

I am not saying that marijuana is not addictive which I believe it is, just like sugar, tobacco, junk food, series, sex, sports. But I can only carry the weight of my responsibility and everybody needs to make their own choices. That's is why we are alive. To make choices and we cannot delegate this to some central organization. Legal or illegal is just the voice of the oppressor. 

Peace.

All of the point you cite don't matter. The real issue with marijuana isn't economics or the amount it takes to feel high. It's about controlling your body and having the state inform you of what they will *allow* you to consume. It's about the us gov having a patent on marijuana as a cancer fighting substance and then having that same gov turn around and claim it has no medical uses. It's about the dark relationship between drugs and state, and how illegal drugs helps fund the state whether directly or indirectly. 

It isn't cool to say that people only have internet knowledge about this subject when you don't even have firsthand knowledge. Like, how would you know it makes a person okay with being bored? Because South Park aligns with something 'you guess' you agree with, personally? How would you even know that, never having smoke a bowl?

I'm not saying go smoke weed if you don't want to, but maybe have a look at the thoughts you've formed about the subject and then toss it all out because we're in a world full of liars who quite literally aim to control your body and your opinions. 

I've never been to a prostitute, but that doesn't make it not the oldest profession and even a respected one in different cultures. 

In NYC, they'd like to outlaw Break dancing on the trains when they're moving. I don't break dance nor ever have, but I have to agree that those movements are dangerous and no one can safely do that on the train so we should outlaw it. Doesn't make sense, eh?

So, nope. I'm pulling for large legalization across the nation and hopefully the world. 

Maybe we can make these nonsensical biased stereotypes vanish after legalization

You don't seem very informed at all. I'm not sure why you would make a post about something you don't really know anything about.

1) I can't believe you said that. Who cares about protecting sales of alcohol and cigarettes - two things that are much more harmful than marijuana.

I can't even waste anymore time on this. There are no facts here, just nonsensical opinions and confirmation bias with no real knowledge or experience.

from someone with extensive experience with both weed and alchohol, weed is the lesser of the two with regards to impairment. I got addicted to alcohol but not weed.......

This post has been linked to from another place on Steem.


  - [Advanced Steem Metrics Report for 6th November 2016](https://steemit.com/steemit/@ontofractal/advanced-steem-metrics-report-for-6th-november-2016) by @ontofractal




Learn more about and upvote to support [**linkback bot v0.5**](https://steemit.com/steemit/@ontofractal/steem-linkback-bot-v0-5-the-reddit-awareness-release). Flag this comment if you don't want the bot to continue posting linkbacks for your posts.

Built by @ontofractal

I voted for you because I like that you are opening up a conversation and seem to be just stating your opinion, which is cool. I happen to think that freedom of choice is important to protect in this journey we call LIFE. Now did you know that the reason that WEED is illegal is because a rich man who owned over 30 newspapers in America as well as a heavy owner in the timber industry as well as hugely  invested in Nylon, his name was Mr. Hearst. He needed the then popular Hemp (weed) plant which was providing us with clothes, rope, building material, paper, and the list goes on as to its value and the fact that is was a rapid harvest not like the trees which take many many years to grow! It can cure many many illnesses when used properly, as well as calm us  down! (which happens to interfere with FEAR program the powers that be are running on us to keep us enslaved depressed zombies who don't question authority any more. imho) The elites or Illuminate or what ever you want to call the powers that shouldn't BE, who want to keep things surpressed that actually help man kind, Marijuana (Hemp) is an incredible, edible plant who should be free to be consumed by the inhabitants of Mother EARTH.  I challenge you to dig deeper my friend, once I stepped down the rabbit hole of truth and its suppression I was unable to return to the land of ignorance and disempowerment, you are so close to the answers....keep searching and use your gut as a guide not your programmed fear that they have spent so many years dumbing us ALL down. Break FREE.....you don't have to use it to know it is valuable to many others. 
Thanks again for you post, we can change the world by educating ourselves with the real truth, don't settle for the programmed shit they spew out in most of our media outlets...enjoy your day :) Namastay